Chapter 260

"The karma wind is fierce, blowing all living beings into the sea of old age, sickness, and death."

—— "Great Perfection of Wisdom Treatise"

In ancient Western Buddhism, it was believed that because there was karma wind in the world, it caused people to age and cut short the lifespan of all living beings.

Coincidentally, there were also theories in the Daoist Sect that wind could push stars to move and change, could blow mulberry fields into seas, and could blow flesh and blood into withered bones. Cheng Xinzhan's practiced "Tiangang Dixun Renling Zhangshen Benjing" and "Zhaofeng Tongyun Fu Mi" both had such expositions.

It was even rumored that there was a "Wind of Disaster and Plague of Five Decays" between heaven and earth. When it blew, plants withered and human lifespan was cut short. This was the power of heaven and earth to kill.

The Daoist Sect believed that using wind to cut short lifespan and accelerate the passage of time was a disaster, a duty that only heaven and earth had, and it could not be seen unless a great disaster descended.

This kind of disaster divine wind had great karma when practiced, and if one was not careful, the practitioner would age before their time. It was rumored that only the ruler of the ancient Heavenly Court, the Queen Mother of the West, could control this wind.

And the Queen Mother of the West was an ancient great god from a long time ago. To this day, the inheritance had already declined. Moreover, what had been passed down was mostly the female cultivation method of health preservation and flying to immortality and the Western Gold Essence path, and there had never been any record of disaster wind.

Besides this, Daoist cultivation also believed that it was not only external disaster wind that could cause people to age, but once wind evil arose in the human body, it would also cause people's qi and blood to stagnate, viscera to weaken, and accelerate aging.

Just as the Shangqing Sect's "Huangting Neijing Jing" said: "Liver wind shakes and a hundred meridians tilt, lifespan is like a remnant candle extinguished suddenly."

And this was also the reason why Cheng Xinzhan had always attached such importance to the Wind Mansion Inner Landscape God and had been hesitant for many years.

The immortal path values life. After realizing the harm of wind evil to lifespan, many methods of suppressing wind and removing evil were proposed, which were mentioned many times in the qi-practicing, guiding, and inner elixir refining methods of various sects.

But also because the immortal path values life, after realizing wind evil, no one would think of controlling wind evil or nourishing wind evil to accelerate the passage of their own lifespan.

Due to inheritance and concepts, in the current Daoist Sect, whether it was external wind or internal wind, in terms of use, there were no Daoist arts related to accelerating the passage of time.

Cheng Xinzhan wanted to explore this aspect based on the wind methods and inner elixir arts he had learned, but the referenceable spells and scriptures were truly too few.

Fortunately, there were stones from other mountains that could polish jade.

After Cheng Xinzhan heard that the Little Xikang demonic monks practiced "White Bone Contemplation," "Heartless Contemplation," and "Cold and Heat Contemplation," a flash of inspiration appeared in his mind, and he immediately thought of the Kuotuo lineage in ancient Western Buddhism. After returning from Cold Flavor Temple, he found a book in the cave stone, "Everything Dharma Lineage Unification Scripture," taken from the Corpse-Tu Cave of Tianqiao Mountain.

This was a scripture that summarized many dharma lineages of ancient Western Buddhism. He remembered that there was a simple introduction to the Kuotuo lineage in it.

Sure enough, he remembered correctly. At that time, reading these Buddhist scriptures in the Corpse-Tu Cave was just a glance, but he had an impression that it mentioned the practice of wind. But at that time, thinking that ancient Western Buddhism had mostly perished, he didn't go into it deeply.

Now that he had come to Little Xikang, it made him think of it again.

The Kuotuo lineage, the "Decay Wind Suffering" among the eight sufferings.

This lineage practiced karma wind, adding it to oneself, to comprehend the true meaning of cultivation and life through the suffering of aging.

However, the monk Han Shi also said that the suffering of Decay Wind was considered extremely dangerous among the eight sufferings. Once there was a mistake in cultivation, one would turn into a pile of withered bones. There were very few people who practiced it. As far as he knew, there were only two temples in Little Xikang that practiced this dharma lineage.

————

"Renying."

Cheng Xinzhan came to Yan Renying's hermitage. The door here was wide open, and he saw the young man leaning over the desk reviewing something, his back still very straight.

Yan Renying was very happy to see Cheng Xinzhan coming and hurriedly got up to welcome him.

"Yunlai, sit."

Cheng Xinzhan sat down opposite Yan Renying's desk.

"Yunlai, you closed the door to practice as soon as you came back. I have always wanted to thank you in person but didn't want to disturb you. I didn't expect you to come to the door yourself."

Yan Renying poured a cup of tea for Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled,

"I had some gains during the dharma battle, so I closed the door in a hurry. Please excuse me."

Yan Renying shook his head,

"Gains during a dharma battle naturally need to be consolidated in time. Yunlai is a great talent."

Speaking of this, Yan Renying smiled and praised,

"As soon as Yunlai made a move, it was technically shocking to everyone. We couldn't attack Cold Flavor Temple for a long time, but Yunlai succeeded in one strike. These days, the name of Yunlai Sanren has already spread in the Sword Pavilion."

Cheng Xinzhan knew what was going on as soon as he thought about it, and he said,

"It must be Daoist Tuo Yan praising me wrongly."

Yan Renying shook his head with a smile,

"The facts are like this, how can it be called praising wrongly?"

The two chatted idly for a few more sentences. Cheng Xinzhan knew that Yan Renying was in charge of a pavilion and was busy with affairs, so he didn't delay and directly stated his purpose,

"Renying, do you have any maps or documents of the Fengshi Ridge Decay Life Zen Monastery here?"

Yan Renying was stunned upon hearing this, but immediately nodded and said,

"Yes, what does Yunlai want to do by asking this?"

Cheng Xinzhan then said,

"I also just learned that the demonic sect in Little Xikang is so rampant, actually raising mortals in captivity. Since I know this inside story, how can I still sit still? Naturally, I have to go slay demons."

Yan Renying nodded, then said again,

"Everyone has the intention to slay demons, but Yunlai, this Decay Life Zen Monastery is not easy to deal with. There is a strong wind in Fengshi Ridge all year round, and it is difficult for ordinary people to even get close."

Cheng Xinzhan said upon hearing this,

"Renying, don't worry. I practice wind methods and specially chose this place, so naturally, I have some confidence."

After Yan Renying heard this, he didn't persuade him anymore, but said,

"Then Yunlai, wait a moment. I will invite someone familiar with the terrain to go with you."

Cheng Xinzhan stopped him immediately upon hearing this and said,

"Thank you for your kindness, Renying, but I am used to being a wild crane. I am also used to slaying enemies and fighting alone. I just need Renying to give me the relevant maps and documents."

Immediately after, he added another sentence,

"Renying, don't worry. I know you are at a critical period. If I slay the demon, I will naturally carve a stone to record the merit for the Xichuan Sword Pavilion."

These words made Yan Renying feel a bit embarrassed, and he said repeatedly,

"I, sigh, Yunlai has a heart. Then how about this: when you return from slaying the demon, I will give you twice the reward of a Profound Sect disciple slaying a demon, how about that?"

Cheng Xinzhan waved his hand and smiled,

"There is no need for that. When the time comes, please just give me some pointers on sword arts."

Yan Renying naturally agreed immediately, then personally took Cheng Xinzhan to a library. There were bookshelves standing here, and there were many hidden scrolls.

Yan Renying introduced,

"When our Profound Sect entered Kang, we naturally made a lot of preparations. These are all dossiers compiled by our Profound Sect disciples traveling and investigating in Little Xikang over the last hundred years."

He took Cheng Xinzhan to a bookshelf, took down a jade slip, and handed it to Cheng Xinzhan.

"This is the map and document of the Decay Life Zen Monastery. After you go, Yunlai, don't seek success in one go, and be careful in everything."

Cheng Xinzhan took the jade slip, his divine sense probed into it, and after remembering the content, he handed the jade slip back. There were not many records about this Decay Life Zen Monastery. It seemed that it was indeed dangerous there, and it was not easy to sneak in.

However, having these rough records was already very good. After all, it was deep into the demon's lair, and he was afraid of being blind.

Don't look at how easy it was to slay the monk Han Shi, but that was because Wu Mei had already tried twice before, knew the monk Han Shi's means, knew that the cold fog was strange, and knew that there were mortals in the temple. If he had gone to the door alone without knowing anything, it definitely wouldn't have been that simple.

And with the Profound Sect's documents, it was better to compare whether the monk Han Shi's words were true or false.

Cheng Xinzhan also saw people coming in and out of this place to read often. They should all be Profound Sect disciples preparing to slay demons. He thought for a moment and said to Yan Renying,

"Renying, my two children are also good hands in the Second Realm. The Sword Pavilion is murderous, and the demonic scourge is terrifying. It is not good for them to play all day. How about I let them come to you to take on tasks, and please take care of them on my behalf?"

Yan Renying immediately said good upon hearing this.

It was not easy to form a Golden Core, and it was rare to see it anywhere. The Profound Sect disciples in the Sword Pavilion were also mostly in the Second Realm. And Little Xikang was so big, naturally it was impossible for it to be all great demons, and there were many Second Realm demons. So Yan Renying welcomed Second Realm practitioners who were willing to slay demons to work in the Sword Pavilion, and the more the better.

And what he thought in his heart was that Cheng Xinzhan's strength was so formidable, his two children naturally couldn't be bad.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, bid farewell to Yan Renying, and after leaving the library, greeted Bai Long and Zhaoli, and then left the Sword Pavilion first.

————

Fengshi Ridge, like Cold Flavor Lake, was in the hinterland of Little Xikang, located between the Jin Sha River and the Yalong River, about two hundred miles southeast of Cold Flavor Lake.

Cheng Xinzhan came by wind and arrived at the place very quickly.

He stopped in the air and watched from afar, only to see the cliffs on both sides of the mountain ridge like they were chopped by swords and axes. Plants were extinct on the ridge, red rocks were exposed, and they were jagged like ghost teeth.

In the middle of this mountain ridge, there was a narrow ravine, as if split by a sword, less than a hundred steps wide.

The strong wind here never stopped. After pouring into the narrow ravine, the wind became even greater, flying and roaring, and it even swept up the sand and stones on the ground and the stone walls, wrapped in the wind, and then hit the rock walls on both sides, clanging, with sparks splashing, just like a blacksmith forging soldiers.

Therefore, this place was also called Anvil Gorge.

The strong wind was filthy, sand and stones were flying, and there were sparks, making it impossible for people to see the situation inside the gorge.

Cheng Xinzhan operated his pupil technique, and green light flickered in his right eye, so the situation in the wind gradually became clear.

In the center of this narrow ravine, on the stone wall facing the shade, about a hundred feet off the ground, a cave was chiseled, and a hanging temple was built.

The stone wall grew eaves outward, with wooden bones and cliff embryos, empty pavilions and hanging niches, carrying dangerous rocks on top and facing deep valleys below, which was extremely dangerous. Moreover, the hanging temple was black all over, and it was on the dark side of the dark wall, almost merging with the cliff wall. Especially looking inside the temple gate, it was pitch black, gloomy, and extremely terrifying.

Ropes were pulled on the eaves, one end tied to the eaves and the other end tied into the stone wall, and many small white flags were tied densely on the ropes.

Cheng Xinzhan was compiling the geography of Little Xikang, so he recognized this thing. This should be the unique wind horse flag in the Little Xikang and Tubo areas, also called prayer flags. However, in general, wind horse flags were five-colored flags of white, yellow, red, blue, and green. He hadn't seen such white flags.

The white flags fluttered in the wind, like paper money on a grave.

A plaque was hung on the eaves, carved with four words:

"Decay Life Zen Monastery."

After checking the documents of the monk Han Shi and the Xichuan Sword Pavilion, there was good news and bad news.

The good news was that there was only one person, the Crying Wind Monk, in this "Decay Life Zen Monastery." Let alone mortals, there were not even disciples and descendants. The monk Han Shi said, "Decay Wind Suffering" was too difficult to practice. People who practiced this method were filled with a dead wind all over their bodies, and ordinary people could not get close. Coupled with the dangerous terrain of Fengshi Ridge, the strong wind roared, and the demonic sound pierced the ears, so mortals really couldn't live.

The bad news was also mentioned just now. The Crying Wind Monk was filled with dead wind all over his body, which was extremely difficult to deal with. He himself was in the Third Purification Realm, his strength was formidable, and he had the terrain. In this Fengshi Ridge, it could be said that there was no opponent in the same realm.

"Call him once and see if you can call him out."

Cheng Xinzhan sacrificed the gourd and said to the monk Han Shi's Primordial Spirit inside. The two temples were not far apart, and this monk Han Shi and the Crying Wind Monk were still old acquaintances.

Subsequently, he opened the mouth of the gourd, and the monk Han Shi's Primordial Spirit thought rang out on Fengshi Ridge,

"Old monk! Come out of the temple to meet!"

Cheng Xinzhan waited quietly for a few breaths, but there was no response.

"Perhaps he is not at home today?"

The monk Han Shi said to Cheng Xinzhan.

However, just as his voice fell, a weak voice came from the Decay Life Zen Monastery, as if the throat was leaking wind,

"Monk, you forgot that my wind can bring letters from afar. Your Cold Flavor Temple was destroyed by someone three days ago, and your head was also cut off by the Xichuan Sword Pavilion. Presumably, at this time, you are bringing people from the Profound Sect, right?"

The monk Han Shi's face changed, and he looked at Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Xinzhan's face didn't change much. Since he couldn't be bluffed out, then a strong attack would do. Just a Decay Life Zen Monastery, with only one Crying Wind Monk, didn't deserve to make him use any schemes.

Wood overcomes wind, life overcomes death, Yang overcomes Yin.

To deal with such a demonic monk who damages lifespan with Yin wind, then slay him with wood sword and Yang method.

Cheng Xinzhan grabbed into the void with his left hand, and a cluster of green light was born in the void where he fell. The green light then spread to both sides horizontally, pulling into a long strip. Subsequently, the green light converged, and a green-sheathed Tang sword was held in his hand.

The Tang sword was so beautiful, with the majesty of a Han sword and the beauty of a Song sword.

The green sword sheath was like slender eyebrows, and also like new spring leaves, with yellow cloud gold ornaments wrapped around the mouth of the sheath. The sword guard was extremely simple and concise, flat and straight in the shape of the character "one," slightly wider than the sword handle, almost the same width as the sword sheath.

The sword handle was wrapped with dark green shark skin, fitting the palm shape. The handle head was an inlaid green gold plate, round as a full moon, with dense intertwined patterns chiseled on the edge.

He looked at the long sword in his hand with some emotion, stepped into the air and walked toward Fengshi Ridge, chanting casually,

"Twenty years of raising the green edge, hiding the wood dragon in the liver.

Today, it leaves the sheath, slaying demons to prove the Profound Art."

He pressed his right hand on the sword handle and pulled the sword out of the sheath. The mighty sword energy that had been raised for more than twenty years sprayed out, like the green aurora in the northern polar region, dreamy and fluttering, connecting heaven and earth.

The long sword had been silent for more than twenty years, and at this moment, it left the sheath, whistling like a phoenix. The green glow fell from the sky, pouring into the narrow ravine like filling a mountain and river.

Immediately, the earth shook and the mountains swayed, Fengshi Ridge shook like a sieve, giant rocks fell from the mountain, and dust covered the sky. Anvil Gorge seemed to be filled with sword energy at this moment, and the howling strong wind could not advance an inch after reaching the gorge mouth, only able to detour from both sides of the mountain ridge.

The green sword energy did not dissipate after one leak, but condensed from the grand glow into a green dragon, tumbling back and forth in the narrow ravine, as if it would not give up until it split this mountain ridge.

Under such ravaging of sword energy, those white wind horse flags that were still safe and sound under the strong wind through the gorge were immediately torn into shreds, dancing in the gorge, looking more and more like paper money for a funeral.

The eaves of the hanging wall, which could be called exquisite and dangerous, quickly turned into flying ash, and that Zen monastery plaque was a treasure. After being washed into a spider web shape by the sword energy, it still hadn't cracked, and at this moment, it was stuck tightly on the cliff wall, emitting black light, resisting the sword energy, and protecting the dark hole on the cliff wall.

However, seeing the cracks on the plaque getting bigger and bigger, it should not be able to hold on for long.

"Seeking death!"

A low roar came from the hole, and immediately after, a fierce monk in gray beard and gray robe flew out of the hole.

The monk saw Cheng Xinzhan suspended in the air at a glance and immediately flew over.

But at this moment, the green dragon sword energy still didn't dissipate, and seeing the demon come out, it rushed up.

Cheng Xinzhan simultaneously held the sword and greeted him. At this time, he finally saw the full appearance of the treasure sword in his hand.

The treasure sword was three feet eight inches long, fitting the wood number of the River Map: "Heaven produces wood in three, Earth completes it in eight."

The sword body was as bright as the sky after rain, with double edges, and a clear ridge line in the middle, running through the whole body, like a dragon ridge standing upright. The edges on both sides converged into an arc at the sword tip, shaped like a willow leaf, with the edge restrained.

Under the sword guard, four sword name characters were engraved:

"Eastern China Green Pivot."

(End of chapter)